Express Entry candidates with scores as low as 302 selected by Alberta this month

Alberta invited Express Entry candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores as low as 302 in one of two draws held so far this month.

Details of the draws held September 11 and September 18 through the Alberta Express Entry Stream were made public Thursday.

The stream allows the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) to search the Express Entry system for eligible federal candidates who demonstrate strong ties to Alberta or are working in an occupation that supports the province's economic development and diversification priorities.

Candidates are not required to have a job offer in Alberta, but the AINP says having one may increase the likelihood of a candidate being invited.

Selected candidates are issued a Notification of Interest, or NOI, from the AINP and are invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

A provincial nomination results in an additional 600 points towards an Express Entry candidate's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, effectively assuring an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry invitation round.

On September 11, Alberta invited 339 people to apply with scores of 302 and above.

A second draw held September 18 issued 139 NOIs issued to Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 350.

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is a popular provincial option because it selects Express Entry candidates with scores that are usually well below federal cut-off scores.

The lowest Alberta draws this year invited candidates with scores of 300, whereas the lowest all-program federal Express Entry draw this year required candidates to have scores of 438 and up.

So far, in 2019, the AINP has issued 4,378 nomination certificates.

About Canada's Express Entry system

Canada's federal Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates who enter a profile in the Express Entry pool are given a score under the CRS, which considers factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.

A set number of the highest-scoring candidates are issued invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry